UN To Advise Guysuco On Disposal Of Thallium

A UNITED Nations consultant is due here in the near future to advise the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) on the best way of disposing of its thallium sulphate stocks.

The corporation said its thallium stocks are still being stored at the Ogle bonds but is has been in touch on storing techniques with the International Register of Potential Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC) of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in Geneva.

“The UN people have been very helpful and have made certain suggestions,’ a corporation spokesman said.

IRPTC Director, Mr. J. W. Huismans has been in touch with the corporation and was “very helpful on advising us,” Guysuco said.

An expert from the UNEP regional office for Latin America is due here “to see for himself and then come up with final recommendations on what will be the best thing to do with the thallium sulphate,” the spokesman said.

Over 3,000 pounds of the rodenticide, which Guysuco at one time used in its cane fields, are reportedly still stored at the Ogle bonds. It is not easy to dispose of the thallium safely.

Just over a year ago, fears that the deadly chemical had seeped into the food chain, panicked thousands of Guyanese who believed they had been poisoned by thallium.

The panic was triggered by wrong readings given by the Government Analyst Department.